  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - August 20, 2001
01-142
SPOKANE - Using unauthorized water to irrigate two adjacent vineyards in the Walla Walla area has led to fines for Steve Ahler and Jerry Kolke.
Steve Ahler is being fined $49,500 for irrigating nine acres without a water right permit. After investigating several complaints from neighboring landowners, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued Ahler a cease-and-desist order on Aug. 11, 2000.
Ecology continued to receive complaints and continued to warn Ahler of his violation.
In addition, Jerry Kolke is being fined $48,500 for irrigating nine acres on his property without a water-right permit. He too received a cease-and-desist order in August 2000, but continued to irrigate with well water.
State water law prohibits irrigating more than one-half acre of property without a specific permit from Ecology. The fines are based on the number of violations.
In addition to receiving the cease-and-desist orders last year, both Ahler and Kolke were required to install water-measuring devices and to report all water use to Ecology. Both have refused to install the required devices.
"Most growers in Washington are doing their best to comply with the state's water laws," said George Schlender, Ecology's water resources manager in Spokane. "When they see someone else irrigating with water they have no right to, it is understandably discouraging to them, to say the least. That is especially true in a year when water is in such short supply."
Kolke and Ahler may each file an "application for relief" from their penalties with Ecology within 15 days, or they may file an appeal within 30 days with the state's Pollution Control Hearings Board.
Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
